AJ deLange has a post on the Brewing Network forum about something he just found out about the Ward Labs report (if you don't know who he is, let me just say that when he writes about water chemistry I read it and hope I understand what he has to say). If you look at the reports, SO4 is listed as SO4-S, which means the number reported is the sulfur. AJ says to multiply by 3 to get the Sulfate as ppm.

AJ deLange has a post on the Brewing Network forum about something he just found out about the Ward Labs report (if you don't know who he is, let me just say that when he writes about water chemistry I read it and hope I understand what he has to say). If you look at the reports, SO4 is listed as SO4-S, which means the number reported is the sulfur. AJ says to multiply by 3 to get the Sulfate as ppm.

Can someone explain why the multiplyer is three?

ppm SO4-S is ppm of sulfate in terms of the sulfur component of the sulfate only. The molecular mass of sulfur is about 1/3 that of sulfate so to get to SO4 as sulfate you multiply by 3. The latter is what is discussed in brewing texts, assumed in spreadsheets, etc.

So then parts per million is a measure of weight and not actual particles? Don't know why this confuses me - it just doesn't seem logical. I'm thinking sulfate is 1 sulfer surrounded by 4 oxygen so if I have so if I have 5 sulfate particles then I have 5 sulfers and 20 oxygens.

In that case assuming all sulfer is part of sulfate the parts per million of sulfer is the same.... I guess it doesn't work like that though?

So then parts per million is a measure of weight and not actual particles? Don't know why this confuses me - it just doesn't seem logical. I'm thinking sulfate is 1 sulfer surrounded by 4 oxygen so if I have so if I have 5 sulfate particles then I have 5 sulfers and 20 oxygens.

In that case assuming all sulfer is part of sulfate the parts per million of sulfer is the same.... I guess it doesn't work like that though?

Correct, it is typically parts of mass. If it is 20 ppm, then it is 20 g per 1000 kg, or 20 mg per kg, or 20 ug per g, etc. And since 1 liter of water weighs 1 kg (ish) it can sometimes be referred to as weight/volume.

As micsager expected, the water is fairly hard and alkaline. The RA comes out at about 90 which should be good for Amber to Brown beers with little adjustment. He would probably need to cut the alkalinity with minor acid additions to brew a crisp pale colored beer. I calculate that he would need about 0.4 to 0.5 mL of 88% lactic acid per gallon of mash water for the pale beers. He still can use a little more alkalinity to brew black beers, but might be able to get by.

The sparge water will need about 0.6 mL of 88% lactic acid per gallon of sparge water to bring the pH down under 6.0.

I notice that Ward Labs calls the 7.1 Nitrate concentration "safe". The maximum level that EPA allows for nitrate is 10 mg/L, but that is for nitrate reported "as nitrate" and Ward reports "as nitrogen". That means that the actual nitrate level for this water is about 31 mg/L, which is getting up there. This water is OK for adults to drink, but not newborns. Just be aware of that.

As micsager expected, the water is fairly hard and alkaline. The RA comes out at about 90 which should be good for Amber to Brown beers with little adjustment. He would probably need to cut the alkalinity with minor acid additions to brew a crisp pale colored beer. I calculate that he would need about 0.4 to 0.5 mL of 88% lactic acid per gallon of mash water for the pale beers. He still can use a little more alkalinity to brew black beers, but might be able to get by.

The sparge water will need about 0.6 mL of 88% lactic acid per gallon of sparge water to bring the pH down under 6.0.

I notice that Ward Labs calls the 7.1 Nitrate concentration "safe". The maximum level that EPA allows for nitrate is 10 mg/L, but that is for nitrate reported "as nitrate" and Ward reports "as nitrogen". That means that the actual nitrate level for this water is about 31 mg/L, which is getting up there. This water is OK for adults to drink, but not newborns. Just be aware of that.

Thanks for catching that. I just retyped, did not cut and paste. The Wardlabs report does say unsafe for the nitrates. No newborns for the last 16 years, and never at this house.

Thanks for catching that. I just retyped, did not cut and paste. The Wardlabs report does say unsafe for the nitrates. No newborns for the last 16 years, and never at this house.

Now I know why your neighbor got that new water system installed. I think I'd be tempted to pipe some water over from your neighbors for brew day Mic, and leave the tap water for the dishes, toilet, and shower. On the other hand, your hops and other plants should be happy getting that water.

Thanks for catching that. I just retyped, did not cut and paste. The Wardlabs report does say unsafe for the nitrates. No newborns for the last 16 years, and never at this house.

Now I know why your neighbor got that new water system installed. I think I'd be tempted to pipe some water over from your neighbors for brew day Mic, and leave the tap water for the dishes, toilet, and shower. On the other hand, your hops and other plants should be happy getting that water.

Is it just the nitrates, or is there something else? (I guess you'll avoid my beers when judging the Cascade Brewers Cup, huh? LOL)

It's just the nitrates. Even if it is below the cutoff level for adults, it's still pretty high. I'd be worried about seasonal variations causing a spike. I would imagine with all of the rain we've been having the level is quite a bit diluted now, so it could be higher at other times of the year. I don't really know how that stuff works, and besides you're in the rain shadow, aren't you?

Anyway, call me paranoid but I'd want to get the water tested again at different times of year and see if it changes.